This may be a trial run, but there was no running. More like plodding. Whatever. I believe it was Spring of '23 when I bought a set of snowshoes at an end-of-season sale at the local sporting goods emporium. Then the winter of '23-'24 was a bit of a flop for snowshoeing opportunity. '24-'25 was looking like a dud, too, but the last couple weeks have had plenty of snow. I didn't have time before sunset for a Wednesday Walk, but I gave it a whirl earlier today.
This kit came with the snowshoes and telescoping trekking poles and a handy carrying case. Not bad if it works. But what if this whole snowshoeing thing is complicated? There's a lot of straps and doo-dads and whatnot on these. I've never use these thingamabobs before, and new things are suspicious if not downright nefarious!
Well, that was easy. Turns out it's just a quick pull on the handle on one side to cinch it down, and a pull on the other to loosen it up again. Little plastic clips hold everything in place. And the heel strap is similarly simple. Turns out these are easy-peasy, almost as if they're designed to be manipulated while wearing cumbersome gloves or even mittens.
Let's see how the walking actually goes, though.
The trekking poles are nice, too. I was able to set the cam levers to operate easily yet hold securely. As an added bonus, these can be used with snowshoes in winter or when backpacking at a reasonable time of year to be outside instead. But even now, they help with balance. I stayed upright, anyhow. While I am reluctant to put all my weight on one, they can support a lot.
Anyway, surprise of surprises, the snowshoes work. Instead of sinking almost to my knees in this cold white shit, getting snow in my boots, and being miserable and wet, I was just tired and moderately chilled. Yay! No hypothermia! I like not being a human popsicle.
I walked out past the ol' fire pit and saw not only was it almost completely obscured by snow, some animal had the indecency to traipse right across it. Rude! Anyhow, even with lots of the powdery snow from the long sub-zero streak, I stayed mostly above everything, and the tops of my boots were entirely above all that nasty crystallized water.
If this sport looks interesting, you might consider this brand. Or another. I don't care. I'm not an expert. I'm barely an ignorant novice. Get out there, though. Even if it's cold and miserable. Snowshoes make it a bit less so. That's something, right?
